Weaning

[Mai Tai]

oops sorry for the misspelling in my last post.  I am a 46 yr old mom of 5 who used to have a brain and be an excellent speller.  Now I cannot find my glasses half the time, nevermind spell correctly.

[Ann]

Yer I know I'm 50yrs old I forget names, can't spell, go to the bedroom and forget what I went their for and it goes on lol. They tell me it's menopause!!!!!lol

[Mai Tai]

Thanks Ann, at least I am not alone.  As soon as I hit 44, my eyesight, hearing and memory started on the decline.  I don't know if it is because I am so busy or what, but it can be frustrating. 

[Ann]

 Also you have 5 kids. There's a big reason for your problem. Please don't get me wrong I'm sure you have wonderful kids but they do take a lot out of you. I have 3 grown children and 3 grand children and I love them to bits but they still take a lot of my energy at times.

when I get stressed I go into my room  and sit on my bed and take a deep brethe. Then my little Toby comes in looks up at me with his gourgous face. I pick him up and give him a cuddle and I feel so much better. I really don't know what I would do without him.

[Mai Tai]

That is what I am looking forward to with Mai Tai.  I just hope everything works out with my cats.  Two of my daughters have special needs and one is very attached to animals, especially one of my cats, Merry.  This cat is a little high strung and it took her two years to get used to and be friendly with our second cat, Gilly.  I do not want her to be displaced or upset by a dog, especially as she has irritable bowel and starts to vomit when she gets stressed.  She gets along well with my sister's cockapoo, so I am hoping for the best.  My children want a dog so badly, and I think they are old enough to have some responsibilities, though I realize I will be the main caregiver.  My oldest is 22, but then I have, and you won't believe me, 10 year old quadruplet daughters.  Am I crazy to be adding a dog to this mix?  It is just that I grew up with dogs all my life and love them very much.  I just feel that every child should have a dog in their life at some point.  I am also concerned because we had such a bad experience with a Cairn rescue two years ago.  I wonder if I did something wrong to make it so aggressive.  Was I not assertive enough, etc.  Vets told me the dog had neurological damage, but I think maybe Cesar Millan could have helped her.  The more aggressive the dog became, the more nervous I became and then the worse she became.  It was a vicious cycle.  Toby is a very good tempered dog according to all your posts, as are most of the shorkies I have read about at this site.  Also, my friends yorkies, shih-tzu, and shorkie are all good tempered, so Mai Tai comes from a good family.  I think I have a good shot this time.  In the past I have owned a Golden Retriever mix, a Cockapoo mix, a beagle, and a shepherd mix, all with no aggression problems whatsoever, so I don't know why my experience with this one little Cairn has me so spooked.  I guess I feel I failed her somehow, especially as we had to give her back to the rescue and have her re-homed to people with no children.

Anyway, I am babbling, but you seem so nice, it is good to vent to you.  I appreciate this site so much and thank you for it.  Have a great day and I will talk to you soon.

[Ann]

I do feel that because you are getting Mai Tai from a breeder where you know the mother and father of Mai Tai and  you get a good feeling from them that you shouldn't have any problems. Just remember that they are a little bit timid and can be quiet nervous. So they might need time to adjust to your beautiful children. My Toby was very nervous when I brought him home. I put him down for the first time on the floor and he just wanted me to pick him up. But when he first met mey grand kids he just went crazy, He got so excited, he jumped up at the girls which frightened them a little so I had to grab him and make him stop. The good thing is that he was so little that he couldn't knock them over. Once they got used to him, they would drag him around the room like a doll. At first I got worried that they would hurt him but no sooner the girls would let him go he would go back for more. I really don't think you can go wrong with your little Mai Tai. I too have had other dogs my last one was a collie cross kelpy. He was a great dog but when he was a pup he was mistreated by a neighbours child. This caused him to be intolerant with strange children so I would never let my grand children go near him with out me. He was great with my owen children but not with strange children. I have never felt that way about Toby.

The only thing with Toby I need to change is getting so excited when we get visitors as he jumps up at them. Well you know that some people don't like that so I'm trying hard to get that controled.

By the way I think your a legend to be bringing up  quadruplets and special needs as well. I do beleive your Mai Tai will adapt. Just play it by ear. I'm sure you will find that Mai Tai will enhance your family and also give you a cuddle when you need it.

Take care and make sure you have time for you sometimes.